Local winery tours make it easy to sip your way through summer

By CHRISTINA BOYLE

Jun 19, 2008 | 3:16 PM

A beautiful summer day, some fresh country air and a glass of locally grown wine to get the tastebuds tingling.

A visit to one of the many wineries surrounding New York could be the ideal way to enjoy an affordable day away from the city this summer. Dozens are scattered around Long Island, upstate New York and New Jersey, and each offers a diverse range of homegrown flavors to suit all palates.

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"The winemakers have been creating and doing a terrific job with blending the wines," said Jim Ferrarie of Long Island Wine Tours. "They've been getting better every year."

The vineyards cost an average of $5 per person to visit; guests are offered the chance to sample a selection of the different grape varieties and also buy bottles of their favorites.

Ferrarie and Jo-Ann Perry, who owns Vintage Tours, are among the mainstay tour guides on Long Island and offer an affordable way of seeing the region. Best of all, you don't need a car — they'll pick you up from the train station, or even from your New York address, and take you to some of the best spots while providing some historical background on the area.

The cost of their tours vary depending on the size of the group, but range from about $65 to $100 per person; lunch can be included in the package.

The Long Island Rail Road is also offering riders a special summer wine tour on July 12 for $44 per person, with more details on its Web site.

To the west of the river is the Shawangunk Wine Trail, and to the east lies the Dutchess Wine Trail, providing a one-stop shop for all kinds of grapes.

The Finger Lakes, about five hours northwest of the city, have some of the best wineries upstate, but for those looking closer to home, just over an hour from NYC is the small town of Warwick. It hosts three vineyards a few miles apart: the Warwick Valley Winery, Demarest Hill Winery and Applewood Winery.

Applewood alone produces about 5,000 gallons of wine a year, and their Cabernet Franc recently won a silver award for excellence.

"We run the gamut from Chardonnay and Rieslings to sparkling apple cider," says Michele Hull, who runs Applewood with her husband. "We even have fruit wines like a blackberry and blueberry variety. There really is something for everyone."

In New Jersey, there are more than 30 orchards and vineyards, with many hosting free live jazz and blues festivals throughout the summer, along with the chance for visitors to join wine trails, according to the Garden State Wine Growers Association.

More details about tours, events and wineries are available on the Internet and also by visiting Web sites for the individual wineries.